I don’t mind the Park and I don’t mind the Zoo –But … I hear I’ve the honour of going with you?

To shudder at serpents and glower at apesWhilst you treat all in earshot to what you think japesOr torment small foxes through brandishing grapes?Young man, you’re an infernal young jackanapes.(I’ll frankly be hoping the tiger escapesAnd munches and worries and haggles and scrapes….)

Or then, in the Park, meant for virtue displayed,To be dragged alongside as your vices parade,And pretend not to know you, and feel most betrayedTo be seen in your company, not to evadeYour incessant, cock-a-hoop rodomontade?A troop of baboons is less crude on a raid.

I don’t mind the Park and I don’t mind the Zoo.But I’ll be dead, and damned, before I’ll go with you.